Martin Shapiro
Insect viruses are "environmentally friendly" microbes that affect many agriculturally important insect pests. My research deals with the study of those factors that influence the "killing power' of these viruses and the ability of these microbes to kill insects under natural conditions. The research involves such economically important insects as the gypsy moth, corn earworm, beet armyworm, fall armyworm, and the diamondback moth. Research is centered on improvement of potency by enhancers and sunlight stability to obtain effective virus formulations for control of insect pest populations.
Recent Publications:
- Shapiro, M., and J. L. Robertson. 1992. Enhancement of gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) baculovirus activity by optical brighteners. J. Econ. Entomol. 85: 1120-1124.
- Shapiro, M. 1992. Use of optical brighteners as radiation protectants for the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 1682-1686.
- Shapiro, M., J. J. Hamm, and E. M. Dougherty. 1992. Composition and methods for biocontrol using fluorescent brighteners. U.S. Patent 5,124,149.
- Shapiro, M. 1995. Radiation protection and activity enhancement of viruses, pp. 153-164. In: F. R. Hall and J. W. Bary [eds.], Biorational Pest Control Agents. Am. Chem. Soc., Washington, D.C.
- Evans, H., and M. Shapiro. 1997. Viruses, pp. 17-53. Manual of Techniques in Insect Pathology. Academic Press Ltd., London.
- Shapiro, M. 2000. Enhancement in activity of homologous and heterologous baculoviruses infectious to beet armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by an optical brightener. J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 572-576.
- Shapiro, M. 2000. Effect of two granulosis viruses on the activity of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus. J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 1633-1637.
- Shapiro, M. 2001. The effects of cations on the activity of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus. J. Econ. Entomol. 94: 1-6.
- Shapiro, M., and R. Argauer. 2001. Relative effectiveness of selected stilbene optical brighteners as enhancers of the beet armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus. J. Econ. Entomol. 94: 339-343.
- Shapiro, M. The effects of anion and cation inhititors and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors upon the activity of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus. J. Econ. Entomol. (In Press).
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